New York Rangers' Defense Appalling In Bad Home Loss To Winnipeg Jets

By Steven Carollo

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The inconsistency of the New York Rangers continues to be sky high in another disappointing loss following a very good win. I would have loved to be proven wrong but I had this feeling deep down inside me that the Rangers would find a way to disappoint tonight and for sure they did.

Home to face the Winnipeg Jets, after an inspired home win over the Vancouver Canucks against former head coach John Tortorella, the Rangers were hoping to build up a winning streak and distance themselves from a .500 record. But of course fans like me, and Anson Carter, predicted that last night’s game against the Jets would be a trap game for the Rangers and so it was.

The final score of the game was 5-2 Jets but, believe it or not, it was actually a close game for a while. After the Rangers scored early in the 1st to make it 1-0, the defense all of a sudden felt like they did not need to give 100 percent the rest of the way, or so it looked.

After that early goal, the Jets upped their game and pretty much dominated the Rangers throughout. The biggest problem with the Rangers last night was their very loose defense. The Rangers allowed the Jets to do anything they wanted in the Rangers defensive zone and when the Rangers actually came away with the puck, they would quickly turn it over and get pinned deep once again and it only kept getting worse as the Rangers surrounded three unanswered goals in the final 10 minutes of the third period, last one being an empty net goal.

Another game, another disappearing act for two of the Rangers top defenseman Marc Staal and Dan Girardi, who have yet to put a string of good games together all season, and what a coincidence so haven’t the Rangers. Honestly, the once strength of the Rangers is turning into a glaring weakness as Ryan McDonagh and Anton Stralman are the only defensemen stepping up to the plate every game, and when they are not on the ice then most likely whoever is in net for the Rangers will be left out to dry, last night being rookie Cam Talbot.

One good game, one bad game has been the story of the Rangers 2013-14 season thus far, as they are currently 14-14. But with so many known flaws in the Rangers offense, and now defense, it is very hard for me to imagine this team being any better than a .500 club.

Steven Carollo is a New York Rangers and sports writer for RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, add him on Facebook, connect with him on LinkedIn and join his Google network.